EWU Names Scholar-Athletes for January

Feb 12, 2008

Feb. 12, 2008

Sydney Benson and Jonathan Davis have been selected by the athletics department as Eastern Washington University's Scholar-Athletes for the month of January.

One major is not enough for Benson, as the women's basketball player is currently working on a double major in French and English. She also has taken an extensive course load in math, modern languages, literature and philosophy and has earned a 3.87 grade point average. The Snohomish, Wash., native has recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA five times and has been named to the Dean's List on seven occasions. Benson has been a member of the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years.

Benson has performed at a high level on the court, as well. The junior has compiled more than 500 career rebounds and is currently listed in the school record book for career rebounds per game as well as career and single-season free throw shooting percentage. She tied the school mark for steals in a game with seven against Great Falls on Dec. 15 and is ranked among Big Sky Conference players in five different statistical categories this year (free throw percentage, rebounds, blocks, shooting percentage and scoring).

While earning a degree in biology with a 3.48 GPA, Davis has had an illustrious career with the Eastern tennis program, as he has helped lead the Eagles to a tremendous turnaround over the last several years. As a freshman, he saw the team go 3-17, which equaled the number of wins the program had achieved in the previous three seasons combined. His sophomore season, Davis helped Eastern to a 10-8 mark, while as a junior the Eagles won its first two postseason matches in the NCAA Division I era.

Davis' 30 singles victories place him second in school history in that category, just three away from the record. This year, the senior earned a win at No. 6 singles in Eastern's tight 4-3 road loss to No. 68 BYU, defeating AJ Young, 6-4, 1-6, (10-2). The Benson, Ariz., native had a very successful fall season, as well, as he teamed with Pannhara Mam to win the doubles tandem's first seven matches of the season before finishing fall play with a 7-3 record. The spring has seen him succeed in singles, as he has won his first two contests. He has been a member of the Dean's List five times and a member of SAAC for three years.